A.J. Pierzynski: I’m the one guy that they probably can move

“I kind of was expecting it due to the fact that pretty soon here I’ll be 10-and-five where they can’t move me [without my approval],” Pierzynski said Wednesday on “The Afternoon Saloon” on ESPN 1000. “We haven’t really had any talks about me staying here extension-wise. I’m the one guy that they probably can move. I have an expiring contract; they can’t trade [Paul] Konerko because he has a full no-trade clause.

“They don’t really have a lot of other pieces that they would want to trade that are expiring. Hopefully it doesn’t happen, but you just never know.”

“He’s good. He’s not going to lose his job. I’m very happy with what I’ve got and I have a lot of optimism with what I have and I think A.J. is my catcher, hopefully he doesn’t get hurt. But I believe in him. He doesn’t have to worry about anything – not with me.

But when you start making comments about your contract and how long you’re going to be, when is your first day, when is your last day, I think it’s not necessary. But I’m not going to tell my players what to say when your manager says whatever he wants. I respect that. … He’s my catcher until he gets traded or he’s not here anymore. As long as I’m here, I don’t see him why he’s not going to be my catcher.”